Joint for a scan window formed to a cylinder

Abstract

A scan window for an imaging system includes at least one flexible sheet made of an X-ray transparent material and having a first end and a second end. The scan window also includes at least one tapered joint formed between the first end and the second end and secured via a bonding agent to form a joined member with the at least one flexible sheet.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A scan window for an imaging system, comprising:
 at least one flexible sheet made of an X-ray transparent material and having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are angled relative to the length; and 
 at least one tapered joint formed between the first end and the second end and secured via a bonding agent to form a joined member with the at least one flexible sheet. 
 
     
     
       2. The scan window of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end comprise a first tapered end and a second tapered end, respectively, that overlap with each other to form the at least one tapered joint. 
     
     
       3. The scan window of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the at least one flexible sheet continuously narrows from a beginning of the respective end to a most distal location of the respective end. 
     
     
       4. The scan window of  claim 3 , wherein the most distal location of at least one of the first end and the second end has a mating step. 
     
     
       5. The scan window of  claim 3 , wherein the most distal location of both the first end and the second end has the mating step. 
     
     
       6. The scan window of  claim 3 , wherein the most distal location of at least one of the first end and the second end has a mating point. 
     
     
       7. The scan window of  claim 3 , wherein the most distal location of both the first end and the second end has the mating point. 
     
     
       8. The scan window of  claim 3 , wherein the most distal location of the first end has a mating step and the most distal location of the second end has a mating point. 
     
     
       9. The scan window of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first end and the second end of the at least one flexible sheet narrows at a beginning of the respective end, then has a constant thickness until near a most distal location of the respective end before continuously narrowing to the most distal location. 
     
     
       10. The scan window of  claim 9 , wherein the most distal location of both the first end and the second end is rounded. 
     
     
       11. The scan window of  claim 2 , wherein a beginning of a taper of both the first tapered end and the second tapered end has a respective thickness that is at least half a thickness of the at least one flexible sheet at a location outside of the at least one tapered joint. 
     
     
       12. The scan window of  claim 11 , wherein the beginning of the taper of both the first tapered end and the second tapered has a respective thickness that is approximately the same as the thickness of the at least one flexible sheet at the location outside of the at least one tapered joint. 
     
     
       13. The scan window of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging system comprises a computed tomography imaging system. 
     
     
       14. The scan window of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tapered joint is parallel with a central axis of the scan window. 
     
     
       15. The scan window of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tapered joint is non-parallel with a central axis of the scan window. 
     
     
       16. The scan window of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a respective length of both the first end and the second end in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the scan window relative to a thickness of the at least one flexible sheet ranges from 5:1 to 20:1. 
     
     
       17. The scan window of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio is 10:1.